Mitchell Memorial Forest

Mitchell Memorial Forest Website

Park: Mitchell Memorial forest, Hamilton County Park
Trail Stewards: Jon Walters
Address: 5401 Zion Road Cleves, OH 45002
Features: Rock Gardens, Log overs, and bridges
Contact Info: (513) 521-7275
Entry Fee: $5 yearly pass or $2 per visit
Hours: 8am to 8pm

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Hauntings

Excerpts taken from Southern Ohio Paranormal website

Blood Road, otherwise known by it's proper name Buffalo ridge. This is an area that I have treid to research, but haven't had the time or resources to really delve into. It is very dificult to seperate the rumors from the actual events. I have been out to experience this area several times with different groups and have had a different experience every time. some of the stories that were told afterwards were rather exagerated, but one thing I am sure of is that there is some grain of truth to alot of the myth surrounding the area.

1) Some time back in the 60's or 70's a female reporter was supposedly stabbed to death on a small dead end road branching off of Buffalo ridge. If you drive up this road at night you can still see her blood stains on the pavement. I did in fact see the blood stains in the headlights of our car, when I got out to see them up close, I couldn't see them. When I got back into the car I could see them again. It may have just been the trick of the light, maybe not. I could not verify that any reporters were stabbed to death. I went back a couple of years ago and the city had the road chained off and had a city vehicles only sign posted. This road is utilzed as a connector for the MMF trail system!

2) The hanging tree. A blighted half dead tree broken off at the top with one enormous branch extending a short way out and broken off as well. It was like a naturally grown gallows. This tree sits at the branching of another road and is surrounded by a low semi-circular stone wall. I have not heard any rumors about this tree, but had an experience one night with some friends. We had been drinking a few beers and decided ot drive down Buffalo ridge while listening to Black Aria, pretty spooky. On our way back we stopped by the tree to take a leak . So there we were all standing around this tree pissing on the wall, and I looked around (chest level and above of course) and everyone was staring at this freaky old tree. I glanced at the tree ,shook it, zipped it up and got back in the car. The ride home was very akward. The once boisterous group was suddenly timid and silent.I asked a couple of people what was wrong and noone would tell me. Finally once we got back almost everyone burst out with how they had seen themselves swinging by the neck in the old tree, it was almost in unison. From what I know of the people involved, this wouldn't be something they would make up. I don't recall seeing anything, but I wasn't really paying attention to anything but writing my name on the wall at the time.

3)The Cremetorium. There once was a cremetorium on Buffalo Ridge, this is a fact. A gas leak had caused the place to blow up, this is a fact as well. I found microfische articles at the public library downtown. There is no spooky story to accompany this, just adds to the flavor of the area.

4) The burnt out church. Another factual place, I had been there Myself on 3 occaisions. Besides being a haven for cults, it has a very menacing air about it. Inside we had found the remnants of many different rituals, possibly Satanic or perhaps a Haitian form of voodoo. We found carcasses of animal and wax dripping on makeshift altars. It showed signs of frequent use,so we didn't hang around too long. The get to this church you have to pass a small stagnant pond. It couldn't be more than 40 feet wide, but is extremely deep. The stench of this pond is uncanny, even in cold weather. Nothing to say about it except it gives you the feeling that you need to get away from it.

5) The deer thing. Another incident that was wholly outside the realm of the usual Buffalo Ridge tales. I was in a car going down Buffalo ridge one night with two female friends. They had insisted that I take them back to just drive down the road, I was a passenger. We were almost to the end of the road when somethng ran out in front of the car. At first glance it looked like a deer, but it was running on it's hind legs and had a long hairless tail. It passed in front of the headlights and both girls screamed bloody murder. The driver, veering to miss hitting it almost put us into a tree. Luckily her friend grabbed the wheel and righted the car before we did. Both girls were furious with me for taking them back there, even though it was their idea.I had a sore shoulder for a few days from them punching me repeatedly, but no harm done. The incident put me in mind of spring heeled jack, but he lives elsewhere.

Please feel free to add any unusual happening while ride at MMF!!!

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Location and Driving Directions

Directions: I-74 to Exit 7 Cleves, right (from the east) on Route 128 to Miamitown, right on Harrison Avenue, right on East River Road, left on Gum Rum Road, right on Buffalo Ridge Road, left on Zion Road to park entrance on right. The address is 5401 Zion Road, Cleves, OH 45002.

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Trail Maps

Proposed Trail Map

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Description and Review

The proposed trail will be built on the beautifully forested and hilly terrain of Mitchell Memorial Forest in Miami Township, pending Hamilton County Park District board approval, which is expected in July. A preliminary route has already been flagged for a Phase I loop that will be approximately 3.5 miles in length with several hundred feet of elevation change. Construction is planned to begin late summer with a grand opening in the Spring or Summer of 2008.

How you can Help
None of this would be possible without the help and cooperation of the Hamilton County Park District. With two visits by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Trail Care Crew, and several other meetings with CORA leadership since 2002, we were able to work together and come up with a plan to design and build an exciting trail that will allow for low impact recreation by bicycle or foot in a gorgeous park.

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